Monthly Archives: February 2018

ORLANDO, FL – The American Sleep and Breathing Academy’s work with the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) continued last month prior to the NFL’s Pro Bowl game in Orlando, Florida.

The relationship has led to real benefits for NFL players while continuing to raise awareness among the general public, many of whom pay attention to the actions of their grid-iron heroes. Dr. Ronny Rosenbaum, DMD, PA, helped foster that ASBA/NFLPA relationship at last month’s Pro Bowl game.

As a veteran private practice dentist, Rosenbaum discovered dental sleep medicine a few years ago, and it quickly became his passion. With ASBA Diplomate status secured, Rosenbaum got the invite to the 2018 Pro Bowl and eventually took impressions for 25 NFL players at the nearby University of Central Florida’s medical facility during the same day health screening event.

“David Gergen [CEO of the ASBA] is trying to help these ex-NFL players to breathe better, live better, and improve their quality of life,” says Rosenbaum, owner of Cosmetic, Restorative & Preventive Dentistry, Pembroke Pines, Fla. “About 70 players rotated through, and only one said, ‘I don’t want this. I don’t think I have sleep apnea.’ The rest were open, honest, and receptive. In their screening questionnaires, we could see their numbers. We did not expect to take 25 impressions, but they know that oral appliances work.”

Rosenbaum called the overall experience “wonderful” and described the players as “big teddy bears who wanted to feel better and have more energy, because a lot of them were lethargic.” Rosenbaum acknowledges that “CPAP works” but says, “most will not wear it, and even when they do wear it, it can get leaks, and patients can develop issues. It can be good at first and then turn bad. The oral appliance is the best thing for these guys, especially the football players.”

Recently, Rosenbaum has been working with Sleep Group Solutions (SGS) and Rani Ben-David, SGS’ president and founder, using the pharyngometer to measure the airway. “We also test the nasal cavity,” says Rosenbaum, who intends to continue lecturing on behalf of SGS in 2018 and beyond.

“In just a matter of 5 hours I added 25 retired NFL players as patients to my sleep practice. The screening was organized, professional and beyond what I expected. Having the screening inside the Health Center at University of Central Florida was the cherry on top. Taking my staff to the Sleep Group Solutions/ASBA Boot Camp was the best decision I could have made; I heard awesome feedback from other doctors about my staff. This is one of the most exciting things I’ve done in years and I highly recommend all of my colleagues to join the ASBA, attend the annual meeting and bring your staff for the boot camp. It’s fun, exciting and financially rewarding. These NFL players are amazing to work with,” said Dr. Rosenbaum. “Next is Project Rose. I’ve talked with a couple of the guys within Project Rose and the numbers are astounding. Project Rose is going to change dental sleep medicine not only am I excited to help more people with oral appliances, I’m definitely ready for the payout as well.”

To register for the ASBA Annual Meeting and add your staff to the Boot Camp, visit sleep-conference.com.

To find out more about Project Rose, email David Gergen at gxployer@aol.com or call 602-478-9713.

Publisher of Sleep Diagnosis and Therapy Journal the Official publication of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy, the Journal is a clinical and technical publication for dental and medical professionals.

In the days leading up to February 4th, 2018, most of the country was preparing for what is referred to as “The Big Game”. The city of Minneapolis was covered with posters that said “Welcome to The Bold North”, likely referring to the below freezing temperatures that Minnesota is famous for in the winter. Visitors and locals alike stayed warm indoors, but the men who paved the way for the “Big Game” as we know it today were forging a different path that didn’t lead to a field or stadium, but to an office located in the Medical Arts Building – Downtown Minneapolis that saw the likes Mike Singletary, Carl Eller, Earl Campbell and Mike Haynes.

The freezing cold winds of the Bold North didn’t stop former NFL players from attending the NFLPA sponsored sleep apnea screening provided by Project Rose and Pro Player Health Alliance (PPHA) on February 1-2, 2018. When David Gergen, CEO OF PPHA, inquired space for the event, Dr. Mark Wilson, DDS was honored to provide his dental/medical office. Dr. Wilson is known as one of the top periodontists in the country and has been trained in sleep for over ten years. Upon arrival, the retired professional athletes were directed to sign official consent forms that allowed their data to be used for research. After completing screener forms that determine if they are at high risk for sleep apnea, Dr. Inell Rosario, MD reviewed the findings and, when medically indicated, ordered home sleep tests (HST) for them. Project Rose, led by NFL great Gary Baxter, provided HST’s for the players that weekend. Results were immediately uploaded and reviewed the next day and treatment options were provided.

Dr. Mark Wilson, DDS and Dr. Greg Ross, who are sleep dentists and Diplomates of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA), were able to take digital scans of the players’ teeth to have Gergen’s Sleep Appliance Lab begin fabricating instantly. David Gergen only refers ASBA Diplomates to treat the former NFL players.

Sleep dentists working in collaboration with an ENT who is board-certified in sleep, [Dr. Rosario] ensured a quick, efficient and effective service for the players that impressed participants of the event. Former NFL Linebacker Rick Graf said, “I was so happy to hear about this happening this week. I knew I needed to be tested. I snore, but I knew there was something wrong with my breathing at night too. I’m hoping this oral appliance will change my life. My former teammate, Andre Collins, made this program a reality and I’ll be forever thankful to him.”

Publisher of Sleep Diagnosis and Therapy Journal the Official publication of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy, the Journal is a clinical and technical publication for dental and medical professionals.

LAS VEGAS – Can a chronic condition such as sleep disordered breathing be eliminated? It’s ultimately a scientific question, but Dave Singh, DMD, PhD, DDSc, is also quick to point out that the answer is not a threat to anyone’s livelihood.

“No one is going out of business,” says Singh, owner, Vivos BioTechnologies Inc, Cedar Crest, New Mexico. “You have mild, moderate, and severe cases. A possible cure is about collaboration and cooperation. No one is excluded from this party. If you’re happy with your CPAP, that’s great. If you’re happy with your oral appliance, that’s fine. There are people who don’t like the mask, and with the oral appliances there can be side effects.”

During his keynote address at the Annual Sleep & Wellness Conference hosted by the American Sleep & Breathing Academy (ASBA) April 13-14, 2018, Las Vegas, Singh will describe sleep apnea procedures that are approved by the FDA and covered by medical insurance. “I’ll talk about the different options,” he says. “There are alternatives in addition to CPAP, surgeries, and mandibular advancement devices.”

Viewed as a whole, Singh sees vast opportunity, and his optimism is infectious. “The future of dental sleep medicine is off the charts,” he says. “It’s the right thing at the right time for the right reasons. I’ve been in the field for a long time, and now we’re seeing public awareness of the issue, and a realization of how sleep apnea affects overall health.

“If we as dentists can help to identify these patients by screening people, getting a diagnosis by working in collaboration with medical colleagues, and determining alternatives, it’s all a win-win,” continues Singh. “This is the golden age of dental sleep medicine.”

In an effort to cement dental sleep medicine within the larger medical world, Singh is working with two university hospitals in the United States to eventually formulate a new specialty, curriculum, and residency training.

“The idea is that dentists will come into the sleep medicine program as a one-year, full-time fellowship in sleep medicine for dentists,” explains Singh. “They would go through that full-time training, and when they come out the other side, we expect a new specialty to emerge called dental sleep medicine, just like you have oral surgeons and orthodontists. This is where ASBA is at the forefront. It’s all about laying this exciting foundation for the future of the profession.”

Dr. Singh is a Diplomate of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy. He is the founder of the field of pneumopedics and cranofacial epigenetics, including epigenetic orthodontics, having realized a few years ago that there is a natural way for the body to remodel the upper airway, reshape bone and move teeth into their correct positions painlessly without the use of surgery or drugs.

Publisher of Sleep Diagnosis and Therapy Journal the Official publication of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy, the Journal is a clinical and technical publication for dental and medical professionals.

The president of The Compliance Team seeks to demystify the accreditation process for sleep labs. After meticulously building a solid reputation in the world of DME accreditation, Sandra Canally is determined to bring her simplified approach to sleep labs. As president of The Compliance Team Inc, based in Spring House, Pa, Canally has long worked […]